Iridessa arrives at Santa Anita, but BC race destination still not settled

ARCADIA, Calif. – A large portion of the overseas Breeders’ Cup contingent arrived early Sunday at Santa Anita following a long trans-Atlantic and trans-continental flight. The Sunday arrivals included horses from France, England, and Ireland and after clearing quarantine that set of horses will be permitted to train Tuesday morning.

The shipment of Aidan O’Brien-trained horses, coming on a private charter from Ireland, arrives Monday night and will clear quarantine in time to train Thursday, standard timing for O’Brien international shippers.

Castle Lady, the Charlie Appleby-trained Godolphin filly bound for the Filly and Mare Turf, has been here since Wednesday. Matera Sky (Sprint) and the 2-year-old Full Flat, the two Japan-based Breeders’ Cup pre-entrants, have been here for about a week, while Korea’s Blue Chipper, who runs in the Dirt Mile, has been at Santa Anita about two weeks.

While Aidan O’Brien’s horses aren’t here yet, his son, Joseph’s filly, Iridessa, was among the Sunday arrivals. The thing about that is, Iridessa’s camp legitimately seems conflicted about which race to enter Monday. Multiple sources Sunday said Iridessa remained possible for both the Mile, in which she was entered first preference, and the Filly and Mare Turf, which was listed as second preference. Breeders’ Cup officials on Saturday thought she was bound for the Filly and Mare Turf, but the door remains open for her to start in the Mile, too. Three-year-old Iridessa has claims to both spots, with Group 1 wins this year in the Matron over one mile and the Pretty Polly over the Filly and Mare Turf’s 1 1/4 miles. Racing over a tight, quick course (by European standards) like Santa Anita’s, Iridessa might better suit the Filly and Mare Turf, but the top of that race, headed by Sistercharlie and Magical, might be a little more formidable than the high end of the Mile.